Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 28, 2007 11:26:46 GMT -5

CHICAGO — A jury awarded $9.5 million in damages Thursday to a husband and wife who claimed a smear and terror campaign was aimed at them after they accused a police officer of corruption while working as federal agents.

The verdict ended a five-week civil trial focusing on Joseph Miedzianowski, sometimes described as Chicago's most corrupt police officer, who is now serving a life sentence.

Diane Klipfel and Michael Casali said Miedzianowski smeared them with misconduct allegations and terrified them with threats after they accused him of corruption in 1992 while working in the Chicago office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They said they were so frightened, their children slept in a closet in the interior of the house in case shots were fired through the walls.

Jurors leaving the court scoffed at city officials' claim that they conducted an 18-month investigation of Miedzianowski but never interviewed Klipfel and Casali, and were unable to uncover evidence of corruption at the time.

"You run an investigation and never interview the main person who made the complaint?" juror Joe Karl said. He and other jurors also said they gave greater credence to testimony that Miedzianowski frightened people after seeing a tape of a deposition at his California prison.

The couple hugged and kissed their friends and their attorney after the verdict was announced. "I'm relieved that the ordeal is finally over and justice is served," said Casali, who still works for the agency.

City Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said officials were disappointed and were reviewing appeals options.

The jury awarded Klipfel, who has retired, $7.75 million for violation of her rights by both Miedzianowski and the city. It awarded her $1 million for defamation of character by Miedzianowski while acting in his role as a city employee.

It also awarded Casali $1 million for Miedzianowski's violation of his rights while acting as a city employee.

Their attorney, Sally H. Saltzberg, said the city would have to pay the entire $9.75 million because Miedzianowski is believed to have no money. She said the couple's attorneys would ask the court to award them fees of about $1 million.

Miedzianowski was convicted in April 2001 of masterminding a Chicago-to-Miami cocaine pipeline and supplying guns and ammunition to the very street gangs he was supposed to be investigating.